The Southeast Region includes Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

Welcome to the Southeast Region Blog!

Welcome to the Southeast Region Blog!

Greetings to all members in the Southeast Region of the American Guild of Organists. I hope that this blog can be an easy way for us to keep in touch. Please contact me for news and events from your chapter that should be included. I'm happy to spread the word! Scroll to the bottom of the page for the regional events calendar.

Best wishes for a wonderful 2015-2016 season.

Laura

Friday, November 12, 2010

Your Region IV Councillor was on the road again to visit with members of the Greater Columbia chapter. This chapter will be hosting our Regional Convention in 2013 -- so the time to start planning is now! We had a lovely meal and a great brainstorming session. I'm excited to see how the plans will unfold. Special thanks to Tony Roof, convention coordinator, and Frances Webb, my tour guide, for their hospitality. Get ready to be dazzled by the 2013 convention in Columbia!

The Community Church of Vero Beachis pleased to welcome Dr. James David Christie to the bench of the new Lively-Fulcher Pipe organ on Friday, January 14, 2011 at 7:30PM Tickets: $20/Adults $12/Students For Tickets call the ticket office at 772.778.1070 (Group rates available for 10 or more).

There will also be a Masterclass with Dr. Christie on Saturday, January 15, 2011 from 9:00AM to Noon. For more information about playing in the Masterclass, please contact Ryan Kasten, Associate Director of Music at 772-469-2306 or ryan.kasten@ccovb.org

For Hotel information please contact Suzanne Rice, Music Administrator at 772-469-2317 or Suzanne.rice@ccovb.org

The Jackson, Mississippi, chapter has announced a local competition of the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists. The competition will be held on March, 26, 2011, at St. Andrew's Episcopal Cathedral in Jackson.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Your Region IV Councillor was on the road once again . . . this time to attend National Council meetings in Baltimore from Friday, October 8 thru Monday, October 11.

The meetings on Friday and Saturday meeting were led by Dennis Elwell, Councillor for Conventions. In attendance were all regional councillors and convention coordinators for the 2013 (yes, 2013!) regionals. Tony Roof, coordinator for the 2013 regional convention in Columbia, South Carolina, joined me as Elwell and members of CORC (Committee on Regional Conventions) outlined the convention guidelines. Thanks to the Columbia chapter for hosting in 2013!!

On Saturday afternoon, councillors from the nine regions met. On Sunday afternoon, the rest of the national council joined us for a discussion of the Long Range Planning survey. (You'll be pleased to know that, yes, your participation in the survey matters!)

Monday was spent getting down to business (i.e., motions, votes, and the like!) What items are most interesting? Well, here is my rundown of the the 'top six topics of interest at the National Council Meeting':

6: Approval of Houston as the host site for the 2016 national convention
5: Approval of a variety of POE code of conduct documents
4: Approval of Boston as the host site for the 2014 national convention
3: Approval of the budget for the 2012 national convention in Nashville
(Go Region IV!!)
2: Implementation of national dues collection, hopefully, by the next dues cycle. We may have a bit of a learning curve here, but I think it is a move in the right direction!
1: After a weekend of meetings, confirmation that all members of the National Council are committed to the mission of the guild.

We each, in our own way, are vital parts of this organization that we call the American Guild of Organists. Let me know if there are things that I, as councillor of Region IV, can do to assist you!

The East Carolina Chapter announces a local chapter competition of the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists. The competition will be held on March 12, 2011, at First United Methodist Church, Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
For more information, please contact competition coordinator Casey Whaley at: casey.whaley@live.com

The Birmingham chapter of the American Guild of Organists announces a local chapter competition of the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists. The competition will be held at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Birmingham on March 5, 2011.

Thursday, October 14, 2010

The Wilmington Chapter will host a local chapter competition of the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists on Saturday, February 26, 2011, at St. Andrews-Covenant Presbyterian Church in Wilmington. For more information, please contact the competition coordinator, Justin Smith at: cjs386@gmail.com

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The Knoxville Chapter will host a local competition of the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists on March 12, 2011, at Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville.
For more information, please contact the competition coordinator, Edie Johnson at: ejohnson@churchstreetumc.org

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Our newest chapter, Grand Strand, held their inaugural meeting on October 1st, 2010, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. "Supper and Anthems" -- a wonderful dinner followed an anthem reading session. What fun!

The ninth annual Eastman Rochester Organ (EROI) Initiative Festival will be held on November 11-14, 2010. This year’s program focuses on the art of playing the pedals, from the seventeenth century to the present day. Designed especially for students and teachers, the festival will offer new perspectives on pedal technique and opportunities for “feet-on” experience with important practice instruments, such as the pedal clavichord, pedal piano, and harmonium.

The festival schedule also boasts performances by Olivier Latry, David Yearsley, Joris Verdin, and the highly acclaimed Weser-Renaissance Ensemble from Bremen, Germany. Featured instruments include the new Craighead-Saunders Organ of Christ Church, Paul Fritts opus 26, John Brombaugh opus 9, Taylor and Boody opus 57, and the Italian Baroque Organ at the Memorial Art Gallery.

This year we are offering discounts to students and teachers who attend the festival together. For the full schedule and online registration link, visit www.esm.rochester.edu/eroi. Don't delay--the registration deadline is October 20, 2010.

Sunday, October 3, 2010

The first round of the AGO/RCYO (better known as the AGO/Quimby Regional Competition for Young Organists) will be happening soon. Perhaps your chapter could host a local competition? Winners at the local level will go on to compete in our regional competition in Greensboro. The winner of the Greensboro regional competition will go on to represent Region IV at the Rising Stars recital at the national convention in Nashville. Complete details may be found at:http://www.agohq.org/competitions/rcyo.html

Gregory Hand will be in recital at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 16 North 16th Street, Wilmington, NC, Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. Dr. Hand has performed organ concerts across the United States, as well as England, Ireland, France, Spain, Germany and Brazil. He has participated in several international organ competitions, including the Grand Prix de Chartres, St. Albans, Prix Andre Marchal, and the Dublin International Organ Competition.Dr. Gregory Hand graduated from Northwestern University, subsequently earned the Doctor of Music Arts degree at the University of Michigan, and is now professor of organ at the University of Iowa. A week after this performance in Wilimington, he is scheduled to record a CD for Naxos.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

St Paul's Episcopal Church in Beaufort, NC, wishes to sell their Casavant Tracker Organ. Opus 3507 (1981) has 12 ranks and is a free standing unit tracker. The instrument has two 56 note manuals and a 30 note concave radiating pedal board. All keys and stops are full tracker action.

Dimensions: 164" tall x 93" wide x 100" deep w/pedalboard

Man I:

8' Flute a chiminee; 4' Prestant; Fourniture III

Man II:

8' Bourdon; 4' Flute; 2' Doublette; Cornet III; Tremblant

Pedal:

16' Soubasse; II-I; I-Ped; II-Ped

All stops are enclosed except for the 4' Prestant speaking facade, and the 16' Soubasse which is located behind the case.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

On Sunday, September 26, your Region IV Councillor traveled to Vero Beach, FL, to install the 2010-2011 officers of the Treasure Coast Chapter. The Great Choral Gathering and Service, held at First Baptist Church, Vero Beach, featured a combined choir conducted by guest Daniel Koh. A reception at the church was followed by dinner with AGO members at Citrus Grillhouse. Ah, fun and fellowship!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Brennan Szafron, organist, will present an organ recital of music for Halloween and All Saints Day at Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Tryon, NC, Friday, October 29, 2010, 7:00 p.m. Entitled "Saints and Souls Alive!", the concert will include compositions by J. S. Bach, Marcel Dupre, and Leon Boellmann.

A native of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, Brennan is the first full time organist and choirmaster of the Episcopal Church of the Advent, Spartanburg, SC. He is also an adjunct instructor in organ performance at Converse College and is the college organist.

Brennan's training as an organist began in Ottawa, ON, Canada, in 1990. He finished high school in Regina, Saskatchewan, where he held his first professional organist positions at St. Peter's Anglican Church and Christ Lutheran Church.

Brennan is the recipient of numerous awards and scholarships. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree, with distinction, from the University of Alberta. At the age of 21, he became a Fellow of the Royal Canadian College of Organists. Further degrees include a Master of Music degree from Yale University and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Michigan.

Brennan is an active recitalist, and Holy Cross Tryon is fortunate to feature him on the William E. Seifert Memorial Organ Recital Series. Come and hear the scary and not so scary sounds of the 43-rank chancel organ at Holy Cross, rebuilt by John Dower & Company, Lincolnton, NC in 1994-1995, and played by one of the finest organists in the Southeast.

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Your Region IV Councillor is on the road! On Sunday, September 12, Laura traveled to the Ocala (FL) chapter for the kick-off dinner at the home of Dean Dr. Wayne Earnest (catering from Sonny's BBQ!) On Friday, September 17, Laura 'crashed' the Jacksonville (FL) member BBQ held at the home of Tamara and Thor Wenzel (burgers and a splendid pot-luck!)

Friday, September 3, 2010

Join R. Monty Bennett for a Sonic World Tour of organ music from North America, Asia, Europe and South America. The program will be on Sunday, October 17, 2010, 3:30 pm at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, NC. For more information, please visit: www.friendshipcharlotte.org Phone: 704-392-0392

Friday, August 20, 2010

The National Committee on Membership Development and Chapter Support encourages every AGO chapter to participate in the 2010-2011 Race to Renew Membership Campaign! It promises fun, larger membership numbers, national recognition, and the opportunity to win $500 to use in any way the chapter chooses! Chapters have been divided into three groups according to size, thereby ensuring that chapters will compete only with others of comparable membership strength. A winner will be selected randomly from each group. In order to be eligible to win, a chapter must renew 90% of the present membership roster and file its dues report to the National AGO office by September 1, 2010.If you have any questions about the Race to Renew Membership Campaign, please contact AGO Membership Manager Justin Storms at National Headquarters, 212-870-2311, ext. 4304, or e-mail: jstorms@agohq.org

Indiana University is going “Bach to School,” September 16-18, 2010. The biennial organ conference, held in conjunction with the Indiana Organists United (IOU) Reunion will host former students and honor three outstanding alumni of the department (George Ritchie, David Schrader, and a special posthumous award given to Michael Farris). This conference is designed to provide three days of professional and personal renewal to all interested musicians, regardless of prior IU affiliation. For more information, please contact Patrick Pope: papope@umail.iu.edu

The 2011 Tallahassee Church Music Conference will be held on January 27-29, 2011. This year's conference promises to be the most exciting yet; there are over 24 workshops, concerts, and events from which to choose. Faculty members include keynote speaker Martha Moore-Keish, Bruce Neswick, Kevin Fenton, and many more. A new nightly social hour is new this year as is the premier of a documentary film by Margot Fassler of the University of Notre Dame. Also be sure not to miss performances by the internationally renowned Orlando Deanery choirs!

Councillor for the Southeast Region, Laura Ellis

I am delighted to serve as Councillor for AGO's Southeast Region. My duties are to relay the needs of our region to national and to communicate national level decisions to our membership. I look forward to meeting many of you and visiting one of your chapter events!